Psalms 27:7 — Word Study
WLCשְׁמַע־ יְהוָ֖ה קוֹלִ֥י אֶקְרָ֗א וְחָנֵּ֥נִי וַעֲנֵֽנִי׃
BSAHearshâmaʻ [listen with attention and obedience] O LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] my voiceqôwl [sound or cry] when I callqârâʼ▸ [cry out to someone or something] be mercifulchânan [show kindness or favor, bending to help] and answer meʻânâh [respond or give an answer]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שְׁמַע־ | hear | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine singular |
| יְהוָ֖ה | O Yahweh | Noun proper |
| קוֹלִ֥י | voice my | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| אֶקְרָ֗א | I call out | Verb, Qal, imperfect first person common singular |
| וְחָנֵּ֥נִי | and show favor to me | Conjunction, verb qal imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
| וַעֲנֵֽנִי׃ | and answer me | Conjunction, verb qal imperative second person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call; be merciful and answer me. |
| KJV | Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. |
| ASV | Hear, O Jehovah, when I cry with my voice: Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. |
| YLT | Hear, O Jehovah, my voice — I call, And favour me, and answer me. |
| WEB | Hear, Yahweh, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also on me, and answer me. |
| BBE | O Lord, let the voice of my cry come to your ears: have mercy on me, and give me an answer. |
Where they part company is חָנֵּ֥נִי — see How Translations Differ.
The verse consists of a main clause followed by an imperative phrase, emphasizing the urgency of the psalmist's request.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Ellicott & more — read them ›
clause
verbיהוה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Psalms 27:7
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Plea for Divine Attentiongenerated
Psalm 27:7 captures a heartfelt cry from the psalmist to the LORD, seeking His attention and mercy. This verse is nestled within a context of trust and worship, where the psalmist expresses confidence in God’s protection and guidance amidst adversities, as seen in the surrounding verses. The call for God to hear and respond highlights a deep relational aspect of prayer, reflecting a common theme in the Psalms where the faithful seek divine intervention in times of distress.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalm 4:1 | Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer. |
| 2 | Psalm 5:2 | Attend to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray. |
| 3 | Psalm 130:2–4 | O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy. |
| 4 | Psalm 143:1–2 | O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 4 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שְׁמַע־, she.ma'-generated
The verb שָׁמַע (shama`) is an imperative form meaning 'to hear' or 'to listen.' It emphasizes not just the act of hearing, but also the importance of attention and obedience to what is heard. This word is frequently used in contexts where God commands His people to listen and respond to His words.
In this verse, the psalmist implores God to hear his voice, indicating a desire for an attentive response. The imperative form suggests urgency and a plea for immediate action, reflecting the psalmist's reliance on God's mercy.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse has a main clause initiated by the verb שְׁמַע־, hear, followed by a series of phrases that express the psalmist's request. The structure emphasizes the urgency of the plea, with the psalmist directly addressing God.
The syntax shows a clear flow: the verb leads, followed by the subject יְהוָ֖ה (O Yahweh), and then the object קוֹלִ֥י (my voice). This order highlights the psalmist's focus on the divine listener.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שְׁמַע־ as κύριε (Lord), which aligns with the Hebrew's invocation of God's covenant name. This choice underscores the relationship between the speaker and God, emphasizing His authority and readiness to listen.
The translation of חָנֵּ֥נִי as με (me) reflects a direct plea for personal mercy, maintaining the intimate tone of the original Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Psalm 27:7 is a prayer where the psalmist asks God to listen to his voice when he calls out. He seeks God's mercy and a response to his plea. This verse highlights the importance of prayer and the relationship between the believer and God.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The psalmist is expressing a deep desire for God to pay attention to his prayers and respond to his needs.
Asking for mercy reflects the psalmist's recognition of his dependence on God's kindness and favor in times of trouble.
This verse embodies the themes of trust, prayer, and the seeking of God's presence, which are prevalent throughout the Psalms.
We can learn the importance of approaching God with sincerity and urgency in our prayers, seeking His guidance and help.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I need to seek God's mercy and guidance?
- How can I cultivate a deeper relationship with God through prayer?
- What does it mean to me to know that God listens to my cries?
- How can I be more attentive to God's voice in my life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early interpretations of this verse emphasize the importance of God listening to the inner voice of the faithful. Augustine of Hippo reflects on the psalmist's plea for divine attention.
"Hear my voice, O Lord, wherewith I have cried unto You" [Psalms 27:7]. Hear, Lord, my interior voice, which with a strong intention I have addressed to Your ears.Early Church Fathers on Psalms 27 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Psalms 27:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHear, O Lord, [when] I cry with my voice,.... Which is to be understood of prayer, and that in the time of distress; and of vocal prayer, as distinguished from mental prayer; and the phrase denotes
Read John Gill on Psalms 27 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
Read Robert Jamieson on Psalms 27 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsPsalms 27:7 Hear, O LORD, [when] I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.Ver. 7. Hear, O Lord, when I cry] This was his form of prayer, or to this effect, when he was in any distress or danger. As a good soldier of Jesus Christ, he had weapons, not only defensive (the shield of faith, helmet of hope, breastplate of righteousness, &c., as Ephesians 6:14-18), but also offensive, viz. the darts of prayer, as here, and the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, as in the next.
Read John Trapp on Psalms 27 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(7) The change of tone so marked here, from the warlike to the plaintive, leads to the supposition that Psalms 27:7-12 are interpolated from another song of quite another kind in contents, art, and period. I cry with my voice—i.e., aloud.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Psalms 27 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 7. Hear, O Lord, when I cry] This is the utmost that any man of common sense can expect - to be heard when he cries. But there are multitudes who suppose God will bless them whether they cry or not; and there are others, and not a few, who although they listlessly pray and cry not, yet imagine God must and will hear them! God will answer them that pray and cry; those who do not are most likely to be without the blessings which they so much need.
Read AdamClarke on Psalms 27 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges7–14. The tone of the Psalm changes abruptly to plaintive and anxious supplication. God seems to be on the point of hiding His face.
Read Cambridge on Psalms 27 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice - This earnest prayer seems to have been prompted by a returning sense of danger. He had had assurance of the divine favor. He had found God ready to help him.
Read Albert Barnes on Psalms 27 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call; be merciful and answer me.
Hear, Yahweh, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy also on me, and answer me.
Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call; be merciful and answer me.
Hear me, O Lord, when I cry out! Have mercy on me and answer me!
Tyndale line
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
Hear, O Jehovah, when I cry with my voice: Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
Hearken vnto my voyce, O Lord, when I crie: haue mercie also vpon mee and heare mee.
Strictly literal
Hear, Jehovah; with my voice do I call; be gracious unto me, and answer me.
Hear, O Jehovah, my voice — I call, And favour me, and answer me.
Hear, O YHWH, my voice—I call, || And favor me, and answer me.
Hear, O Lord, my voice, [when] I call, and be gracious unto me, and answer me.
Hear, Yahweh, my voice when I cry out! Have mercy on me, and answer me!
From the Latin
The Lord is my helper and my protector: in him hath my heart confided, and I have been helped. And my flesh hath flourished again, and with my will I will give praise to him.
Simplified
Listen to me, Lord, when I call for help. Be gracious and answer me.
O Lord, let the voice of my cry come to your ears: have mercy on me, and give me an answer.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all six words matched in the Hebrew. This consistency between the witnesses supports the integrity of the text across traditions.
שְׁמַע־ יְהוָ֖ה קוֹלִ֥י אֶקְרָ֗א וְחָנֵּ֥נִי וַעֲנֵֽנִי׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Psalms 27:7
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear
Qal 1052
subj. pers. hum.
י׳ (God) subj.
Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound
be heard of
be regarded, obeyed
= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.
Pi. he caused the people to hear
Hiph. 63
of man
י׳ subj.
base
H8085 שָׁמַע hear
8085 shama` shaw-mah'
a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with
implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to
tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X
carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,
declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make
to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)
obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,
regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,
understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.
: hear
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to
1a5) to understand (language)
1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)
1a7) to listen, give heed
1a7a) to consent, agree
1a7b) to grant request
1a8) to listen to, yield to
1a9) to obey, be obedient
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)
1b2) to be heard of
1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed
1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound
1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)
1d3) to make proclamation, summon
1d4) to cause to be heard
n m
2) sound
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.
: obey
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
V-Qal-Impv-2ms — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine singularHVqv2ms
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
N-proper — Noun properHNpt
קוֹל (qol) primarily means 'voice' or 'sound,' encompassing various contexts such as music, noise, and even thunder. It can also denote lightness or frivolity. The word is built from a root meaning to call aloud and appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including a reference in Jeremiah 3:9.
ref
H6963a קוֹל sound, voice H6963b קֹל lightness, frivolity
6963 qowl kole
or qol {kole}; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a
voice or sound:--+ aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out),
fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, (pro-)claim,
proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder(-ing), voice, +
yell.
קוֹל (qol) — voice.
: voice/shout/loud
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קֹל (qol) — frivolity.
lightness, frivolity
קוֹל (qol) — voice: sound.
: sound/noise
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קוֹל (qol) — voice: thunder.
: thunder
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קוֹל (qol) — voice: message.
: message/proclaim
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קוֹל (qol) — voice: [sound of].
: [sound_of](THING)
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קוֹל (qol) — voice: listen.
: listen
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word קָרָא (qara') is a primitive root meaning to call, proclaim, or read. It encompasses a range of actions including calling out, crying for help, reading aloud, and summoning. The word can also imply being called or named in various contexts. There are no significant disagreements among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
קָרָא 724 vb. call, proclaim, read
Qal
call, cry, utter a loud sound
call, cry
call unto some one
cry for help
proclaim
read aloud
read to oneself
summon
call = name
Niph.
reflex.
pass. be called
Pu. be called
base
H7121 קָרָא call, proclaim, read .. . call, cry, utter a loud sound
. call, cry
. . call unto some one
. cry for help
. proclaim
. . read aloud
. read to oneself
. summon
. call = name
. . reflex.
. pass. be called
. be called
7121 qara' kaw-raw'
a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea
of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly,
address by name, but used in a wide variety of
applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for,
forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite,
mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation),
pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
see HEBREW for 07122
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call to.
: call_to/invite/entreat
1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound
1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)
1a3) to proclaim
1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read
1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow
1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to call oneself
1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named
1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen
קָרָא (qa.ra) — to call: call by.
: call_by/name
1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound
1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God)
1a3) to proclaim
1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs — Verb · Qal · imperfect first person common singularHVqi1cs
חָנַן (chanan) is a Hebrew verb meaning to show favor or be gracious. It encompasses various forms, including being pitied, directing favor, and seeking favor through imploration. The word can also mean to be loathsome, as noted in Job 19:17. The lexicons provide a range of uses, primarily focusing on kindness and mercy.
חָנַן vb. shew favour, be gracious
Qal favour, shew favour
Niph. be pitied
Po‛el direct favour to
Hoph. be shewn favour, consideration
H2603a חָנַן shew favour, be gracious .favour, shew favour
. be pitied
.direct favour to
. be shewn favour, consideration
. seek or implore favour
H2603b חָנַן be loathsome
2603 chanan khaw-nan'
a primitive root (compare 2583); properly, to bend or stoop
in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to
implore (i.e. move to favor by petition):--beseech, X fair,
(be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant
(gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on,
upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, X very.
see HEBREW for 02583
חָנַן (cha.nan) — be gracious.
1) to be gracious, show favour, pity
1a) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious
1b) (Niphal) to be pitied
1c) (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious
1d) (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on
1e) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration
1f) (Hithpael) to seek favour, implore favour
חָנַן (cha.nan) — be loathsome.
to be loathsome
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHC/Vqv2ms/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word עָנָה (*anah*) is built from a primitive root meaning to heed or pay attention, covering a range of meanings including to answer, respond, testify, and sing. It appears in contexts where one responds to speech or circumstances, and can also refer to singing. The lexicons indicate that it can imply both verbal responses and musical expression.
[עוּן] vb. dwell
base
עָנָה 316 vb. answer, respond
Qal
answer, respond to sthg. said, actual or implied
respond to an occasion, speak in view of circumstances
money meets all demands
specif. respond as a witness, testify
less oft. make response as one accused (respondent)
Niph.
make answer
be answered
Hiph. wholly dub.; causes all things to respond in the joy of his heart
base
עָנָה vb. sing
Qal sing, utter tunefully
Pi. sing sweetly of it
base
H6030a עוּן dwell H6030b עָנָה answer, respond .. answer, respond to sthg. said, actual or implied
. . respond to an occasion, speak in view of circumstances
. money meets all demands
. . specif. respond as a witness, testify
. less oft. make response as one accused (respondent)
. . make answer
. be answered
. wholly dub.; causes all things to respond in the joy of his heart
H6030c עָנָה sing
6030 `anah aw-naw'
a primitive root; properly, to eye or (generally) to heed,
i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extens. to
begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify,
announce:--give account, afflict (by mistake for 6031),
(cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for 6031), cry,
hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, X scholar, (give a) shout, sing
(together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness.
See also 1042, 1043.
see HEBREW for 06031
see HEBREW for 06031
see HEBREW for 01042
see HEBREW for 01043
עוּן (un) — to dwell.
(Qal) to dwell
עָנָה (a.nah) — to answer.
1) to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to answer, respond to
1a2) to testify, respond as a witness
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to make answer
1b2) to be answered, receive answer
Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָה "to answer" H6032)
עָנָה (a.nah) — to sing.
(Qal) to sing, utter tunefully
Conj | V-Qal-Impv-2ms | Suff — Conjunction · verb qal imperative second person masculine singular · suffixHC/Vqv2ms/Sp1bs